Cylinder cock



May 21, 1935. R, H GEQRGE 2,002,450

CYLINDER COCK Filed Marche, 1955 [COA/Nt'TEO 7.

Patented May 2l, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CYLINDER COCK Robert H. George,

delphia, Pa.,

Application March 9,

8 Claims.

My invention relates to cylinder cocks, that is to say, to devices adapted to be mounted on the cylinders of engines, particularly of locomotives, for the purpose of removing the condensation Water therefrom.

My invention relates particularly to that type oi' cylinder cock in which the valve is normally held on its seat by iluid pressure under the control of the operator, and which opens automatically whenever undue pressure occurs in the engine cylinder by reason of high compression or the accumulation of condensation water therein.

Heretofore, in the use of automatic cylinder cocks of the type above mentioned, certain diniculties have been experienced which have hindered their universal adaptation, notwithstanding it is recognized that cylinder cocks of this type have certain inherent advantages.

For example, it is well known that the condensation water passing through the cock contains a considerable quantity of broken down lubricating oil, and in some instances grit, which passes down along the valve stem into the piston chamber, fouling the same and eventually resulting in the destruction of the working parts.

Also the water which passes down along the `valve stem collects in the piston chamber, freezing in cold weather and rendering the valve inoperative.

Also, in most of the automatic cylinder cocks at present in use, there is considerable leakage past the piston of the air used for the control of the valve.

Also in the use of cylinder cocks of this type, it is sometimes necessary to make an emergency adjustment for the purpose of holding the valve on its seat, particularly in the event of failure of the air supply to the operating cylinder of the valve. The most common form of device used for this purpose comprises a bolt threaded in the bonnet of the valve, but this form of locking means is objectionable in that considerable leakage of air often takes place Where the bolt is threaded in the bonnet.

The principal object, therefore, of my present invention is to provide, in an automatic cylinder cock, means for preventing the condensation water, and the oil and grit carried thereby, from passing downwardly into the operating cylinder of the valve.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of operating piston for such cylinder cocks.

A further object of my invention is to provide Philadelphia, Pa., George Manuiacturlnpcompnny.

a corporation of Delaware assignor to Inc., Phila- 1933, Serial No. 660,083 (Cl. 121-134) Figure 1 is a vertical, central section of an automatic cylinder cock embodying the main features of my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof, taken transversely to Fig. 1, certain of the interior parts be- 20 ing shown in elevation;

Fig. `3 is an underneath plan view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the parts in the positions assumed when the valve is locked in the closed position. 25

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawing herein contained are illustrative merely, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the 30 invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is there shown a preferred embodiment of my invention. As illustrated, 5 is a cylindrical casing provided with a treaded nipple 6 at the upper end thereof for mounting the same in the wall of the engine cylinder. 'I'he nipple 6 is provided with a port l, at the lower end of which there is mounted a ring member 8, having a valve seat 9. The ring member 8 is preferably threaded into the interior of the casing 5 at the lower end of the port 1, so that the same may be made of a different metal, and be replaceable if desired. 'I'he central opening in the ring member 8 forms a continuation of the port 'l in the nipple 6.

The side wall of the casing 5 is provided with an opening I0 forming a communication between the valve chamber II and the exterior of said casing, to permit the water which passes through the port l, when the valve is open, to be drained away.

The valve member I2 is mounted in the chamber II, being vertically movable therein and having one face I3 complemental to the seat 9 provided by the ring member 8. 'I'he valve -I2 has 55 ing the valve chamber .der provided at the point 4hold all of the parts a downwardly extending stem I4 which extends through and is guided in a central aperture in a guide member I5.

The guide member I5 is mounted in the interior of the casing 5 at the bottom of the` valve chamber II, being threaded therein in a manner similar to that of the valve seat ring 6. The gu1de member I5 forms a horizontal partition separat- II from the piston chamber I6 in the lower portion of the casing 5.

The guide member I5 is provided with an upwardly extending annulus I1, which projects into a complemental recess I6 in the under side cf the valve member I2. The upwardly projecting annulus I1 provides a guard which prevents the water, and any contaminating material contained therein, from passing downwardly along the surfaceof the valve stem -I4 into the chamber I6 below the guide member I5.

The lower end of the valve stem I4 is reduced in diameter, as at I9, and upon this reduced portion there is mounted a disk 20, forming one of the elements of the piston structure. A gasket 2| is interposed between the disk 20 and the shoulwhere the valve stem I4 is reduced in diameter, this gasket being of any suitable packing material to prevent leakage at this point.

A piston packing is mounted on the under face of the disk 26, and comprises a flat circular portion 22 having a downwardly projecting peripheral rim 23 which bears against the inner surface of a sleeve 24 mounted in the lower end of the piston chamber I6 of the valve casing 5.

A spreader ring 25 of spring wire is mounted onthe inner side of the rim portion 23 of the piston packing member, and insures the bearing of the working surface of said packing member against the inner surface of the sleeve 24.

The piston packing member and the spreader ring are held in place by a disk 26 mounted on the reduced portion I9 of the valve stem I4, the periphery of said disk 26 being recessed as at 21 to receive the spreader ring 25. The lower end of the reduced portion I3 of the valve stem I4 is threaded, and a nut 28 is mounted thereon to of the piston structure assembled on said reduced portion of the valve stem.

A coil spring 29 is mounted in the piston chamber I6 of the valve casing 5, bearing at the lower end against the top surface of the disk 20, and at the upper end against the under surface of the guide member I5. n each side of the lower end 0fthe casing 5 there is provided a boss 30, having a threaded recess 3I into which the end of an air pipe 32 may be threaded. It should of course be understood that the air pipe 32 will be connected to one side only of the casing 5, and the recess 3| provided at the other side thereof may be closed. by means of a pipe plug 33, this arrangement being provided so that the cylinder cock may be used either right or left hand as required.

A port 34 extends from the inner end of each of the recesses 3|, through the casing 5 and through the sleeve 24, to a point below the lowermost position of the packing member of the piston structure.

The lower end of the casing is closed by a bonnet member 36, which is secured to the casing by means of bolts 31. The central portion of the bonnet member 36 is provided on one side with a recess 38, which is normally disposed inwardly to provide a clearance for the lower end y piston,

of the valve stem I4. The other side of the bonnet 36 is provided with a projecting boss'39, normally disposed on the outside, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, but adapted, when said bonnet 36 is reversed, to bear against the lower end of the valve stem I4, and thereby when the bolts 31 are properly tightened, to hold the valve member on its seat, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

A gasket 40 is interposed between the upper surface of the bonnet 36 and the under surface of the casing 5, to prevent leakage at this point.

The operation of the device will be readily apparent. The coil spring 23 tends to impel the and consequently the valve, downwardly, thereby opening the valve whenever there is no air under pressure below the piston, so that when the valve is in this position any condensation water which has accumulated within the engine cylinder will be permitted to drain through the port 1 of the valve chamber II, and thence out through the opening I0.

When the engine is operating normally, air under pressure will be fed through the pipe line 32 to the recess 3|, thence through the port 34 to the space below the piston, forcing the piston upwardly and causing the valve to be seated, thus closing the port 1 which communicates with the engine cylinder.

It will be noted, however, that in the event of any abnormal pressure occurring in the engine cylinder, due to high compression or to an accumulation of condensation water therein, the same will be relieved by reason of said pressure causing the valve to be lowered from its seat against the pressure provided by the air. Of course, whenever the operator desires arbitrarily to open the cylinder cocks, this is done in the customary manner by relieving the pressure of the air supplied to the under side of the piston.

It will be noted that, by reason of the provision of the annulus I1 extending upwardly from the guide member I5, it will not be possible for any of the condensation water, or any contamihating material carried thereby, to pass do wardly along the surface of the valve stem I4 into the piston chamber I6.

It will also be noted that, in the normal operation of the device, there will be little likelihood of leakage of the air for controlling the valve, by reason of the peculiar construction of the plston, as well as that of the bonnet 36, which merely has to be reversed in order to lock the valve in the closed position for emergency purposes.

I claim:

1. A cylinder cock comprising a casing, a guide member mounted therein forming a horizontal partition separating the interior of the casing into a valve chamber and a piston chamber, the casing having a port forming a conmlunication between the engine cylinder and the valve chamber and an opening in the side wall forming a communication between the valve chamber and the exterior, a valve disposed in the valve chamber adapted to close said port, said valve having a stem extending through the guide member, the guide member having an upwardly extending annulus surrounding the valve stem, and the valve member having a recess into which said annulus projects, a piston mounted on the lower end of the valve stem, the casing having a uid pressure connection and a port extending therefrom to the piston chamber below the piston, a bonnet for closing the lower end of the casing, said bonnet having a boss normally disposed exteriorly but 7 adapted when the bonnet is reversed to hold the valve in the closed position.

2. A cylinder cock comprising a casing, a guide member mounted therein forming a horizontal partition separating the interior of the casing into a valve chamber and a piston chamber, the casing having a port forming a communication between the engine cylinder and the valve chamber and an opening in the side wall forming a communication between the valve chamber and the exterior, a valve disposed in the valve chamber adapted to close said port, said valve having a stem extending through the guide member, the guide member having an upwardly extending annulus surrounding the valve stem, and the valve member having a recess into which said annulus projects, a piston mounted on the lower end of the valve stem, the casing having a fluid pressure connection and a port extending therefrom to the piston chamber below the piston, a bonnet for closing the lower end of the casing, said bonnet having a recess on one side to provide a clearance for the lower end of the valve stem when the valve is in the open position, and the other side of the bonnet having a boss adapted when the bonnet is reversed to hold the valve in the closed position.

3. A cylinder cock comprising a casing, a fluid pressure actuated valve, and a reversible bonnet mounted at the lower end of the casing for closing the same, said bonnet having a boss normally disposed exteriorly but adapted when the bonnet is reversed to hold the valve in the closed position.

4. A cylinder cock comprising a casing having a valve chamber and a port forming a communication between the engine cylinder and said valve chamber, a iiuid pressure actuated valve disposed in said valve chamber and adapted to close said port said valve having a downwardly extending stem, the casing also having an opening forming a communication between the valve chamber and the exterior, a reversible bonnet mounted at the lower end of the casing for closing the same, said bonnet having a boss normally disposed exteriorly but adapted when the bonnet is reversed to contact with the lower end of the valve stem thereby to hold the valve in the closed position.

5. A cylinder cock comprising a casing having a valve chamber and a port froming a communication between the engine cylinder and said valve chamber, a fluid pressure actuated valve disposed in said valve chamber and adapted to close said port, said valve having a downwardly extending stem, the casing also having an opening forming a communication between the valve chamber and the exterior, a reversible bonnet mounted at the lower end of the casing for closing the same, said bonnet having a recess on one side to provide a clearance for the lower end of the valve stem when the valve is in the open position, and the other side of the bonnet having a boss adapted when the bonnet is reversed to hold the valve in the closed position.

6. A cylinder cock comprising a casing, a iluid pressure actuated valve, a valve stem for said valve, and a reversible bonnet mounted at the lower end of the casing for closing the same, said bonnet having a projecting portion normally disposed exteriorly but adapted when the bonnet is reversed to contact said valve stem and hold the valve in the closed position.

7. A cylinder cock having a casing, a fluid pressure actuated valve therein, said valve having a downwardly extending stem, and a reversible cover plate mounted at the lower end of the casing for closing the same, said cover plate having a face normally disposed interiorly to provide a clearance for said valve stem and having a projecting portion normally disposed exteriorly but adapted when the cover plate is reversed to hold the valve in the closed position.

8. A cylinder cock comprising a casing having a valve chamber and a port forming a communication between the engine cylinder and said valve chamber, a fluid pressure actuated valve disposed in said valve chamber and adapted in its uppermost position to close said port, said valve having a downwardly extending stem, the casing also having an opening forming a communication between the valve chamber and the exterior, a reversible bonnet mounted at the lower end of the casing for closing the same, said bonnet having a recess on one side to provide a clearance for the lower end of the valve stem when the valve is in the open position, and the other side of the bonnet having a boss adapted when the bonnet is reversed to contact the lower end of said valve stem and hold said valve in the closed position.

ROBERT H. GEORGE. 

